However some pieces of this kind of sword had been seen in history of japan from earlier period (Up to these days there is hidden sword used by Oda Nobunaga who lived in 1534 – 1582, kept in a museum), Meiji era remains most rich in hidden blades.

It was caused by the law called Haitó rei released in 1876. It forbidded to keep the swords in public, with exceptions of army and police. So, many samurai was stressed by the fact they are not allowed to keep their swords and started to use hidden blades of varied shapes in canes.

It was usefull device for selfdefence in those hard times in Japanese society.

Also the oficials usually had their sword hidden in cane-like koshirae. One of them was Keiko Fukutawa Jukichi (1835 – 1901), for example.

The blade used in shikomizue came most often from wakizashi. Katana- types was rare. Because these blades had to be slight, usually they were filed-down from “mune” and this it why we can see weld crakcs here. ( shingane is outcovered)

Except of bamboo and bamboo-like koshirae of shikomizue, also wooden or plated by Sakuras bark and made from wood can be seen.